By: News Tribune staff, Duluth News Tribune

Friday’s Christmas City of the North Parade ended early for Sandra Merritt. Instead of finishing the route, she stopped to save a life.

Merritt, a Duluth firefighter who was off duty, was on an antique fire truck with her 7-year-old son, Trey, she said. It was about 6:45 p.m., and the truck had just taken the left turn from Lake Avenue to Superior Street. Merritt was waving at people from the back. In front of Minnesota Power, she noticed a woman on the ground, with a man holding a cell phone to her face. Merritt said she hesitated. No one seemed upset, and no one was flagging down the firefighters for help.